Mens Basketball Suffers First Loss at Battle of the Border

Aug 13, 2010

Calgary, Alberta, CANADA –
Northern Arizona men’s basketball fell to 2-1 at the
Battle of the Border with an 89-65 loss to the University of
Calgary at Jack Simpson Gym on Friday night.

The third quarter was the
difference after NAU entered halftime down a point at 30-29.
The Lumberjacks were outscored 33-12 in the quarter with Calgary
hitting 5-of-8 three-point field goals. For the game, Calgary
hit 13-24 from three-point range.

“They out worked us and
played harder,” said head coach Mike Adras. “Our
rotations were poor and they hit shots when we were not in
position. They scored in a variety of ways.

“I give them credit. I
told the team if you do not show up ready to do what you need to do
you are going to get caught. This is their home arena in
front of their fans. They wanted this more.”

NAU shot 35 percent for the game
with splits of 41 percent in the first half and 30 percent in the
second. Calgary hit just 37 percent of its field goals in the
first half, but opened up its double-digit lead with 72.4 percent
in the second.

“We did not show up and play
well,” Adras said. “If you do not play well and
do not play harder than your opponent then you probably are not
going to win. We never overcame those things in this ball
game.”

Eric Platt led NAU in scoring for
the second consecutive game with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and
2-of-4 on three-point field goals. Josh Lepley added 10
points rounding out NAU’s double-digit scorers.

Jared Ogungbemi-Jackson led all
scorers with 21 points. Tyler Fidler turned in the games only
double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The Lumberjacks will have a rematch
opportunity against Calgary tomorrow night. NAU then plays
the Lethbridge Pronghorns in the fifth and final game in the Battle
of the Border on Sunday, August 15.

“It will be interesting
tomorrow night,” Adras said. “We will talk to the
guys tomorrow about what happened and what they need to do
different. We will come out and have to play a lot better
than we did tonight.”

DID YOU
KNOW…Student-athletes, coaches and athletic
department staff combined to volunteer more than 4,500 hours over
the 2009-10 academic year, assisting with events like Red Ribbon
Week, Relay for Life, Welcome Back Jacks, St. Mary’s Food
Bank, Adopt a Family, Climb to Conquer Cancer. In all, the
department participated with more than 20 different organizations
and/or events.